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Medicare Advantage Giveback Plans 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) | Last updated October 8, 2026

A Medicare Advantage giveback plan pays part of your Part B premium for you, so you keep more of your Social Security check. Giveback amounts vary by plan and county, and not every area has one.

The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026 and is projected around $209.50 for 2027, so a giveback can be meaningful. But compare the whole plan: networks, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum matter more than the giveback.

See Medicare Advantage plans that pay the Part B premium.

✔ Licensed across all 50 states
✔ Built on CMS 2027 data
✔ No-cost plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Giveback plans reduce your Part B premium.

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Amounts vary by plan and county.

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Compare the whole plan, not just the giveback.

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The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

How Part B Giveback Works

A Part B giveback, sometimes called a Part B premium reduction, is a benefit some Medicare Advantage plans offer. The plan pays part of your Part B premium, and the reduction usually shows up as a lower deduction from your Social Security check or a credit on your Medicare bill. The amount varies by plan and county.

How It Works

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You must have Part A and Part B and live in the plan’s service area.

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You keep paying any Part B premium not covered by the giveback.

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Giveback plans often have $0 premiums but may have narrower networks or higher copays.

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If your Part B premium is already paid by Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program, a giveback may not help you.

Giveback Tradeoffs

Upside

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Lower monthly Part B cost

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Often $0 plan premium

Watch For

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Narrower networks

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Higher copays or out-of-pocket maximum

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Fewer extras in some plans

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Find & Compare Plans Online

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1-833-641-4938TTY 711

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How to Find a Giveback Plan

Step by Step

1

Search plans by ZIP code. Medicare Plan Finder shows Part B premium reductions.

2

Check the giveback amount. It varies by plan.

3

Check doctors and drugs.

4

Compare total yearly costs.

Who May Not Benefit

If Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program already pays your Part B premium, a giveback generally does not add money for you. Dual eligibles may be better served by a Dual Special Needs Plan.

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, with the exception of hospice care, which Original Medicare continues to pay for. Most also bundle Part D drug coverage, and many may tack on extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Each Medicare Advantage plan sets a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, something Original Medicare lacks. You still pay your Part B premium, along with the plan’s premium if there is one.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

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If Your Plan Is Ending

A non-renewal notice should have reached you in early October if your plan won’t be available in your county for 2027. Coverage doesn’t end immediately; it runs through December 31, 2026, which gives you time to decide.

If Your Plan Is Ending

1

Review your non-renewal letter. It verifies that your plan is ending and lays out your choices.

2

Write down your doctors and drugs. Comparing replacement plans requires them.

3

Compare your 2027 plan choices. Look at networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not only the premium.

4

Pick a plan by December 31 to avoid a gap. If you enroll during Annual Enrollment by December 7, your coverage starts January 1, 2027.

5

Rely on your Special Enrollment Period if necessary. If your plan is ending, you generally have until the end of February 2027 to make a choice.

If you take no action: on January 1, 2027, you go back to Original Medicare, and you will have no drug coverage unless you pick a Part D plan. Being without drug coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: if your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right, lasting up to 63 days after your coverage ends, to purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions.

Enrollment Periods

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Join, change or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 In Medicare Advantage, you can change to another plan or go back to Original Medicare one time
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Switch plans after events such as a move, a loss of other coverage or your plan exiting your area

Annual Enrollment is when most people make changes. If you like your current plan, no action is needed; it renews on its own. Even so, review your Annual Notice of Change, since networks, premiums, copays and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Reading Your Annual Notice of Change

Check Every Line

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Your 2027 premium and deductible

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Doctor, specialist and hospital stay copays

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The out-of-pocket maximum

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Updates to your formulary, drug tiers and coverage rules

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Whether your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy stay in network

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Updates to dental, vision, hearing and other extras

The Annual Notice of Change must reach members by September 30. It is the most useful single document you receive each fall, since it spells out exactly how your plan will change on January 1.

Special Enrollment Periods

Outside of the fall and early-year windows, changing plans generally requires a Special Enrollment Period. Typical reasons include:

You May Qualify If

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Your plan is leaving your area or ending

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You move outside your plan’s service area

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You lose employer or union coverage

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Your Medicaid status changes, or you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help

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You want to join a 5-star plan, once a year

Every Special Enrollment Period has a separate time limit, so move as soon as the event occurs.

Prior Authorization and Referrals

Prior authorization is required by most Medicare Advantage plans for certain services, including some surgeries, advanced imaging, skilled nursing stays and some drugs. While your doctor usually submits the request, ask whether a scheduled service needs approval so you are not caught off guard by a denial.

You or your doctor can appeal a denied request. Medicare rules give plans deadlines for decisions, and those deadlines are shorter when a wait could seriously harm your health.

Emergency, Urgent and Out-of-Area Care

Emergency and urgent care are covered by every Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in the U.S., whether in or out of network, and an emergency does not require prior approval. Routine care while traveling is different: HMOs generally do not cover it, and PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost.

If you’re away from home for months each year, ask every plan how it covers care where you stay. This is among the most frequent reasons people change plans partway through the year.

Appeals and Complaints

You have the right to appeal if your plan denies a service, a drug or payment for care. The denial notice from the plan explains the process. Appeals have several levels, beginning with the plan and moving on to independent reviewers.

If your issue isn’t about coverage, such as wait times or customer service, you can file a grievance with your plan. For help, you can also reach out to 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

The 2027 Part B Premium

Of the major figures, only the Part B premium is not published alongside the plans. CMS typically announces it in November. Projections in the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report put the 2027 standard premium at about $209.50 a month and the deductible at about $292, up from $202.90 and $283 in 2026. You continue paying it even with Medicare Advantage.

If You Miss December 7

Miss the Annual Enrollment deadline and your current plan automatically renews for 2027, including the changes listed in your Annual Notice of Change. Medicare Advantage members get one more opportunity, from January 1 to March 31, 2027, to change Medicare Advantage plans or go back to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan.

Telehealth

Many Medicare Advantage plans may cover telehealth for some services, at times with a lower copay than an in-person office visit. It is handy for follow-ups and minor problems, but you still need to confirm that your regular doctors are in network.

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included in many plans

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; except for emergencies, HMOs require in-network care

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Moving to Medigap later may involve health questions

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around the members they serve, and many come with care coordinators. In 2027, SNPs are one of the few places large insurers are adding plans, even while cutting PPOs.

Type Who Qualifies What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) People with both Medicare and Medicaid Coordinates both programs; costs are often very low, with extra benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) People who have qualifying conditions like diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease Doctors, drugs and programs designed around the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) People who live in a nursing home or need that level of care at home Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

When you turn 65 in 2027, you get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. If you sign up in the first three months, coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Enroll in Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and decide to postpone Part B

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Choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus Medigap

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Enroll in a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs, to avoid a late Part D penalty

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If you go with Medigap, purchase during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Getting Help

You do not need to compare plans by yourself, and help should not cost you anything. Here are the free options:

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Available any time: Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), reachable 24 hours a day on all seven days of the week

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Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased counseling

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A licensed agent or insurance broker, who can compare plans across several insurers for free

Gather your Medicare card, a list of your drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies before you call. That way a long conversation becomes a quick one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Giveback plans can lower your Part B cost for 2027, but judge the whole plan. Compare networks, copays and total costs and enroll between October 15 and December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What is a Medicare giveback plan?

A Medicare giveback plan is a Medicare Advantage plan that pays part of your monthly Part B premium for you. The reduction usually shows up as a smaller Part B bill or Social Security deduction rather than a check in the mail. These plans are offered only in select counties, so availability depends on where you live.

➤ How much is the giveback?

It varies by plan and county, so there is no single giveback amount for 2027. Each plan sets its own reduction, and the figure is listed in the plan’s Summary of Benefits and in Medicare Plan Finder. Weigh the giveback against copays, the out-of-pocket maximum and the network before deciding it is the best value.

➤ Do I still pay Part B?

Yes, you remain responsible for any portion of the Part B premium the plan does not cover. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the 2027 amount, projected at about $209.50, will be announced in November. You must also stay enrolled in Part B to keep any Medicare Advantage plan.

➤ When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

You can join or switch during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and your new plan takes effect January 1, 2027. If you are already in Medicare Advantage, the open enrollment window from January 1 to March 31, 2027 allows one more change. Giveback plans follow these same enrollment windows.

➤ What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Your current plan keeps covering you through December 31, 2026, and you should receive a non-renewal notice explaining your options. A Special Enrollment Period lets you pick another plan, which could include a giveback plan if one is offered in your county. You also generally get a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans, usually within 63 days after coverage ends.

➤ Who qualifies for a Medicare Part B giveback plan?

You generally qualify if you have Part A and Part B, pay your own Part B premium, and live in the plan’s service area. People whose Part B premium is already paid by Medicaid or a state program usually would not see a benefit from the reduction. Eligibility rules can vary, so confirm with the plan before enrolling.

➤ Are Medicare giveback plans worth it?

They can be, but the premium reduction is only one part of the cost picture. A giveback plan may have a narrower network, higher copays or fewer extras than other plans in your county, which could cost more if you use a lot of care. Add up the giveback, copays, drug costs and out-of-pocket maximum before choosing.

➤ Do giveback plans include prescription drug coverage?

Some giveback plans include Part D drug coverage and others do not, depending on the plan and area. If you take regular medications, check the plan’s drug list and pharmacy network before you enroll. For 2027, plans with Part D coverage cap your yearly out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,400.

( Medicare Expert )

Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 15 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.